The Nintendo Wii is a great excuse to move around while playing video games. You can even consider "Punch Out" an exercise program. Why not? You might not get knocked out by Great Tiger or King Hippo, but you can still pull a muscle or get a black eye.
Researchers took a look at Nintendo-related injuries from the past three decades, including those that occurred after the Wii debuted in 2006, according to Live Science.
"Overall, a Nintendo is a relatively safe Christmas present," the researchers wrote, according to Live Science. "However, those who receive such a gift should not swing the controller too hard, they should be careful about where they play and they should take frequent breaks."
In 2009, researchers found that the injuries related to Wii Sports were frequent cuts on the hands, bruises and black eyes. The injuries most often occurred during Wii Tennis.
Arm, shoulder, neck and wrist injuries have been dubbed "Wiiitis," according to Live Science. A woman developed carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness and pain I the hand and fingers) in 2009 after she played Wii bowling... for six to eight hours a day for 10 days.
There have even been reports of broken bones and hernias after using Wii Fit. In 2011, a 7-year-old boy lost vision in his left eye after an accident while playing Wii Sports, according to Live Science.
Before the motion of Wii, gamers had to sit and use their Nintendo thumb. In the 1990s, tendinitis of the thumb, hand and wrist was named "Nintendinitis," according to Live Science. Joysticks (Nintendo 64) caused hand blisters, so the company started giving out protective gloves.
